2 Suspected Drug Dealers Remain In Police Custody

BRISTOL — Two Divinity Street residents whom police called mid-level drug dealers remained in custody Friday after their arraignment on charges of selling heroin.

The arrests Thursday evening stemmed from a two-month investigation into drug sales, police said. Arrested were Jose Colon, 38, and Jesus Gonzalez Diaz, 22, both of 333 Divinity St.

Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney said Friday that bail for both men was set at $500,000 each after they were arraigned in Bristol Superior Court. They remain held and both will be back in court April 2.

According to police, when they searched the Divinity Street home, they found more than 100 bags of heroin, with an estimated street value of $1,000. Officers also found $1,500 in cash believed to be from drug sales. Police also seized a vehicle.

``It's a lot of heroin, we consider these two to be mid-level drug dealers,'' said Sgt. Thomas Grimaldi, head of the department's narcotics team.

``We believe they were selling more than what we found. What we found was what was left,'' Grimaldi said Friday.

Grimaldi said Colon and Diaz were focused on after police began investigating drug activity in another part of the city.

In addition to city police, FBI agents assisted with the search of the home and the arrests Thursday.

Colon was among 14 people arrested in February in a joint investigation by the FBI and Hartford police into cocaine distribution rings in Hartford. At that time, authorities said Colon was a member of the Savage Nomads, a gang trying to re-establish itself in Harford.

Grimaldi said Bristol police worked with the FBI after learning of Colon's earlier arrest.

Diaz came to Bristol from Puerto Rico about a month ago, Preleski said. Grimaldi said Diaz most likely knew Colon when they both were in Puerto Rico.

The affidavit for the warrant police obtained to search the home was sealed and no other details about the case were available Friday. Police said they expect to make more arrests based on information obtained during the investigation.